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  <title>Expressing a learned skill with "hui"</title>
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  <h1>Expressing a learned skill with "<span class="pinyinst">huì</span>" "<span class="hanzist">会</span>"</h1>

  <p>The word <span class="hanzi">会</span> (<span class="pinyin">huì</span>) can be used to express an ability that has been learned (<b>a skill</b>). In this case <span class="hanzi">会</span> (<span class="pinyin">huì</span>) is an auxiliary verb.</p>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_295">Contents</h2>

  <div class="contents">
    <ul>
      <li>1 Basic Usage</li>

      <ul>
        <li>1.1 Structure</li>

        <li>1.2 Examples</li>
      </ul>

      <li>2 Negating <span class="hanzi">会</span> (<span class="pinyin">huì</span>) Sentences</li>

      <ul>
        <li>2.1 Structure</li>

        <li>2.2 Examples</li>
      </ul>

      <li>3 See also</li>

      <li>4 Sources and further reading</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="Structure">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    Subj. + <span class="hanzist">会</span> + Verb + Obj.
  </div>

  <p>This structure is the easiest way to express all kinds of skills, from languages, to sports, to skills in daily life such as cooking and driving.</p>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_296">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">他 会 说 中文。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén. </span><br/>He can speak Chinese.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 会 写 汉字。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ huì xiě Hànzì.</span> <br/>I can write Chinese characters.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 会 做饭 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ huì zuòfàn ma?</span> <br/>Can you cook food？</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">狗 会 唱 歌 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Gǒu huì chànggē ma?</span> <br/>Can dogs sing？</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">爸爸 会 开车。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Bàba huì kāichē.</span><br/> Dad can drive.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_297">Negating <span class="hanzist">会</span> (<span class="pinyinst">huì</span>) Sentences</h2>

  <h3 id="Structure">Structure</h3>

  <p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">会</span> (<span class="pinyin">huì</span>) sentences are negated with <span class="hanzi">不</span> (<span class="pinyin">bù</span>), which is inserted in front of <span class="hanzi">会</span> (<span class="pinyin">huì</span>):</p>

  <div class="deux">
    Subj. + <span class="hanzist">不</span> + <span class="hanzist">会</span> + Verb + Obj.
  </div>

  <p>Again, this is the simplest way to express the lack of a learned ability. So while "<b>can't</b>" is a natural translation for "<span class="hanzi">不会</span>" (bù huì) in English, "d<b>on't know how to</b>" is equally correct (and perhaps more helpful).</p>

  <p>Also, due to a tone change rule for "<span class="hanzi">不</span>" (<span class="pinyin">bù</span>), the phrase "<span class="hanzi">不会</span>" (<span class="pinyin">bù huì</span>) is actually pronounced "<span class="pinyin">bú huì.</span>"</p>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_298">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 不会 说 英文。</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù huì shuō Yīngwén.</span><br/> I can't speak English.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">妈妈 不会 做 中国 菜。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Māma bù huì zuò Zhōngguó cài. </span><br/>Mom can't cook Chinese food.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 不会 游泳 吗？</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù huì yóuyǒng ma? </span><br/>You can't swim?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 奶奶 不会 用 电脑。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǎinai bù huì yòng diànnǎo.</span><br/> My grandmother can't use a computer.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 不会 开车 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù huì kāichē ma?</span><br/> You can't drive a car?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p><b>Note</b> that if we say <span class="hanzi">我不能说中文</span> (<span class="pinyin">wǒ bù néng shuō Zhōngwén</span>), the speaker is saying that he can't speak Chinese for some reason other than his own ability, perhaps because speaking Chinese in English class is forbidden.</p>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_299">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li>Expressing ability or possibility with "<span class="pinyin">néng</span>"</li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_325">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <ul>
    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 219-20)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本1</span>) (pp. 160-1, 200)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本1</span>)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7, 228)</li>
  </ul>
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